Developing web-services for distributed control and building performance simulation using run-time coupling

This paper reports the final results of a research project, which aims to achieve better control modeling in building performance simulation by integrating distributed computer programs. The paper focus on developing Web-services based SOAP/XML to run-time couple control and building performance simulation. Data exchange via Webservices allows system components to be loosely-coupled, rather than combined into an integrated building control systems. The paper also details an example apllication using this technology to configure a distributed simulation through an open protocol, like BACnet or LonWorks and so on. Particularity, this paper concerns the relevance and reliability of integrating Web-services with run-time coupling of control and building performance simulation environments over TCP/IP protocol suite. In addition, this approach provides a reusable patterns either for other similar projects or for real automated building applications

Effects of Adding Unsaturated Fatty Acids on Fatty Acid Composition of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Major Volatile Compounds in Wine

The synergistic influences of three unsaturated fatty acids (UFAs, namely linoleic acid, oleic acid andlinolenic acid) on the fatty acid composition of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and major volatile compoundswere investigated in synthetic grape juice. The addition of UFAs led to a corresponding increase in UFAsin the cellular lipid, which was accompanied by a reverse reduction in the content of medium-chainsaturated fatty acids (C6:0 to C14:0) and little variation in that of long-chain saturated fatty acids (C16:0to C24:0). The supplementation of UFAs considerably improved yeast growth and fermentation activityand, in particular, increased the concentrations of most volatile compounds in wine, including higheralcohols (2-phenylethanol, 2-methyl-1-propanol and 3-(methylthio)-1-propanol), medium-chain fattyacids (butanoic acid, hexanoic acid and octanoic acid), acetate esters (isoamyl acetate and 2-phenylethylacetate) and all ethyl esters. Remarkable linear relationships were further found between ethyl esters andthe concentration of the added UFAs (R2 from 0.909 to 0.996), which significantly intensified the fruity,flowery and sweet attributes of the final wine, as assessed by calculating the odour activity values. Ourresults suggest that rationally increasing the concentration of UFAs is not only a practical method toimprove yeast fermentation activity, but also a potential approach to manipulating wine aroma

Pharmacogenetic aspects of the use of tacrolimus in renal transplantation: Recent developments and ethnic considerations

Introduction: Tacrolimus (Tac) is effective in preventing acute rejection but has considerable toxicity and inter-individual variability in pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. Part of this is explained by polymorphisms in genes encoding Tac-metabolizing enzymes and transporters. A better understanding of Tac pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics may help to minimize different outcomes amongst transplant recipients by personalizing immunosuppression.Areas covered: The pharmacogenetic contribution of Tac metabolism will be examined, with a focus on recent discoveries, new developments and ethnic considerations.Expert opinion: The strongest and most consistent association in pharmacogenetics is between the CYP3A5 genotype and Tac dose requirement, with CYP3A5 expressers having a ∼ 40-50% higher dose requirement compared to non-expressers. Two recent randomized-controlled clinical trials using CYP3A5 genotype, however, did not show a decrease in acute rejections nor reduced toxicity. CYP3A4∗22, CYP3A4∗26, and POR∗28 are also associated with Tac dose requirements and may be included to provide the expected improvement of Tac therapy. Studies focusing on the intracellular drug concentrations and on calcineurin inhibitor-induced nephrotoxicity also seem promising. For all studies, however, the ethnic prevalence of genotypes should be taken into account, as this may significantly impact the effect of pre-emptive genotyping

Effect of a Nonuniform Radial/Axial Tip Clearance on the Flow Field in a Mixed-Flow Pump

The effect of a nonuniform radial/axial tip clearance on the flow field in a mixed-flow pump was studied by numerical simulation of the unsteady flow in the pump with two tip clearance shapes using the standard Reynolds average Navier–Stokes turbulence model, and the equations were solved with the SIMPLEC computational algorithm. The external characteristics, distribution of static pressure, streamline flow of the tip clearance, and vorticity in the impeller are analyzed. The accuracy of numerical simulation was assessed by comparing experimental data with computational results. Although a nonuniform tip clearance leads to a decline in the pump head, which is more pronounced under part-load conditions, the configuration with a nonuniform tip clearance (c = 0.5–1 mm) provides the more uniform velocity and pressure distribution both in the circumferential and axial directions, as the leakage vortex intensity is weakened and its shedding is suppressed. The research results pointed the way for improving the unsteady flow in the mixed-flow pump.Изучено влияние неравномерного зазора на поле течения в радиально-осевом насосе с помощью численного моделирования нестационарного течения в насосе с зазором двух конфигураций на основе стандартной модели турбулентности RNG k , выполнено решение уравнений с применением алгоритма SIMPLE. Проанализированы внешние характеристики, распределение статического давления, потока в зазоре и турбулентности в импеллере. Проведена оценка достоверности численного моделирования путем сравнения экспериментальных данных с результатами расчетов. Показано, что неравномерный зазор вызывает уменьшение напора в насосе, что становится более выраженным в условиях частичного нагружения, но конфигурация с неравномерным зазором (с = 0,5 1,0 мм) обеспечивает более равномерные скорость и распределение давления в касательном и осевом направлениях, поскольку интенсивность обтекания с кольцевым вихрем уменьшается, а его сброс замедляется. Полученные результаты открывают путь к стабилизации нестационарного потока в радиально-осевом насосе

SORLA attenuates EphA4 signaling and amyloid, β-induced neurodegeneration

Sortilin-related receptor with LDLR class A repeats (SORLA, SORL1, or LR11) is a genetic risk factor associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD). Although SORLA is known to regulate trafficking of the amyloid {beta} (A{beta}) precursor protein to decrease levels of proteotoxic A{beta} oligomers, whether SORLA can counteract synaptic dysfunction induced by A{beta} oligomers remains unclear. Here, we show that SORLA interacts with the EphA4 receptor tyrosine kinase and attenuates ephrinA1 ligand-induced EphA4 clustering and activation to limit downstream effects of EphA4 signaling in neurons. Consistent with these findings, SORLA transgenic mice, compared with WT mice, exhibit decreased EphA4 activation and redistribution to postsynaptic densities, with milder deficits in long-term potentiation and memory induced by A{beta} oligomers. Importantly, we detected elevated levels of active EphA4 in human AD brains, where EphA4 activation is inversely correlated with SORLA/EphA4 association. These results demonstrate a novel role for SORLA as a physiological and pathological EphA4 modulator, which attenuates synaptotoxic EphA4 activation and cognitive impairment associated with A{beta}-induced neurodegeneration in AD

Studying the first galaxies with ALMA

We discuss observations of the first galaxies, within cosmic reionization, at centimeter and millimeter wavelengths. We present a summary of current observations of the host galaxies of the most distant QSOs ($z \sim 6$). These observations reveal the gas, dust, and star formation in the host galaxies on kpc-scales. These data imply an enriched ISM in the QSO host galaxies within 1 Gyr of the big bang, and are consistent with models of coeval supermassive black hole and spheroidal galaxy formation in major mergers at high redshift. Current instruments are limited to studying truly pathologic objects at these redshifts, meaning hyper-luminous infrared galaxies ($L_{FIR} \sim 10^{13}$ L$_\odot$). ALMA will provide the one to two orders of magnitude improvement in millimeter astronomy required to study normal star forming galaxies (ie. Ly-$\alpha$ emitters) at $z \sim 6$. ALMA will reveal, at sub-kpc spatial resolution, the thermal gas and dust -- the fundamental fuel for star formation -- in galaxies into cosmic reionization.Comment: to appear in Science with ALMA: a new era for Astrophysics}, ed. R. Bachiller (Springer: Berlin); 5 pages, 7 figure

Nuclear transparency from quasielastic A(e,e'p) reactions uo to Q^2=8.1 (GeV/c)^2

The quasielastic (e,e$^\prime$p) reaction was studied on targets of deuterium, carbon, and iron up to a value of momentum transfer $Q^2$ of 8.1 (GeV/c)$^2$. A nuclear transparency was determined by comparing the data to calculations in the Plane-Wave Impulse Approximation. The dependence of the nuclear transparency on $Q^2$ and the mass number $A$ was investigated in a search for the onset of the Color Transparency phenomenon. We find no evidence for the onset of Color Transparency within our range of $Q^2$. A fit to the world's nuclear transparency data reflects the energy dependence of the free proton-nucleon cross section.Comment: 11 pages, 6 figure

Theoretical study of the two-proton halo candidate 17^{17}Ne including contributions from resonant continuum and pairing correlations

With the relativistic Coulomb wave function boundary condition, the energies, widths and wave functions of the single proton resonant orbitals for $^{17}$Ne are studied by the analytical continuation of the coupling constant (ACCC) approach within the framework of the relativistic mean field (RMF) theory. Pairing correlations and contributions from the single-particle resonant orbitals in the continuum are taken into consideration by the resonant Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer (BCS) approach, in which constant pairing strength is used. It can be seen that the fully self-consistent calculations with NL3 and NLSH effective interactions mostly agree with the latest experimental measurements, such as binding energies, matter radii, charge radii and densities. The energy of $\pi$2s$_{1/2}$ orbital is slightly higher than that of $\pi1d_{5/2}$ orbital, and the occupation probability of the $(\pi$2s$_{1/2})^2$ orbital is about 20%, which are in accordance with the shell model calculation and three-body model estimation

Zitterbewegung in External Magnetic Field: Classic versus Quantum Approach

We investigate variations of the Zitterbewegung frequency of electron due to an external static and uniform magnetic field employing the expectation value quantum approach, and compare our results with the classical model of spinning particles. We demonstrate that these two so far compatible approaches are not in agreement in the presence of an external uniform static magnetic field, in which the classical approach breaks the usual symmetry of free particles and antiparticles states, i.e. it leads to CP violation. Hence, regarding the Zitterbewegung frequency of electron, the classical approach in the presence of an external magnetic field is unlikely to correctly describe the spin of electron, while the quantum approach does, as expected. We also show that the results obtained via the expectation value are in close agreement with the quantum approach of the Heisenberg picture derived in the literature. However, the method we use is capable of being compared with the classical approach regarding the spin aspects. The classical interpretation of spin produced by the altered Zitterbewegung frequency, in the presence of an external magnetic field, are discussed.Comment: 16 pages, no figure

Quenching of Meridional Circulation in Flux Transport Dynamo Models

Guided by the recent observational result that the meridional circulation of the Sun becomes weaker at the time of the sunspot maximum, we have included a parametric quenching of the meridional circulation in solar dynamo models such that the meridional circulation becomes weaker when the magnetic field at the base of the convection zone is stronger. We find that a flux transport solar dynamo tends to become unstable on including this quenching of meridional circulation if the diffusivity in the convection zone is less than about 2 * 10^{11} cm^2/s. The quenching of alpha, however, has a stabilizing effect and it is possible to stabilize a dynamo with low diffusivity with sufficiently strong alpha-quenching. For dynamo models with high diffusivity, the quenching of meridional circulation does not produce a large effect and the dynamo remains stable. We present a solar-like solution from a dynamo model with diffusivity 2.8 * 10^{12} cm^2/s in which the quenching of meridional circulation makes the meridional circulation vary periodically with solar cycle as observed and does not have any other significant effect on the dynamo.Comment: Consistent with the published version. Solar Physics, in pres